So it turns out I'm the demon!

bang bang bang bang

The cleaver landed on the cutting board, making a series of rhythmic, crisp sounds.

With a light twist of her wrist, Bai Xianghao transformed a fresh, white radish into a row of fine, evenly translucent threads under her knife.

It has to be said that, in Jiang Mu's eyes, the way the little cook Bai Xiang looks when she's cooking is the most beautiful.

Not only are her hands skillful and beautiful when chopping vegetables, but the smoky charm she exudes while cooking is also captivating.

The kitchen was already filled with chicken, duck, fish, meat, and various dishes.

Even Chu Lingzhu and Lan Rou'er were wearing small aprons and picking vegetables and arranging them on plates.

Today is Yuan Aqing's birthday.

This is the second time that Jiang Mu has celebrated her birthday since the little girl with the troubled past was brought back to the manor.

In fact, ordinary people in this world don't pay much attention to birthdays.

Aside from a baby's one-month celebration or an elderly person's birthday, only some wealthy families would hold a proper celebration.

Many girls of Yuan Aqing's age are already married, so who cares about their birthday? But Jiang Mu doesn't care about such things.

Even if my beloved little maid turns eighteen, we still have to celebrate properly. As long as she's by my side, the pampering and rituals we deserve are indispensable.

"I'm talking to the boss,"

Chu Lingzhu dipped the bright green bok choy in the basin of water, then turned around angrily to glare at Jiang Mu, who was slacking off.

"You said you were coming to help, but all you did was sneakily eat vegetables. At least help us knead some dough or something."

Of course, that wasn't what the girl was really unhappy about.

Instead, it was that the bastard boss's thieving eyes that were practically glued to Bai Xiang and never looked away.

Is Bai Xiang the only female creature in this kitchen?

I'm at least sixteen years old, a beautiful and delicate flower. Standing right under your nose, why don't you look at me?

Besides, the other person isn't even as good-looking as me.

Chu Lingzhu glanced at the figure in front of the stove with a hint of jealousy, her gaze falling on Bai Xiang's plump hips and slender waist as she chopped vegetables, and she couldn't help but feel a little deflated.

Okay, just looking at her back as she cooks, it's really quite a sight. "Kneading dough?"

Jiang Mu looked troubled and said seriously,

"Although I've been learning dough-kneading techniques from Bai Xiang during this time, and my hand strength and control of the heat have improved a lot, I haven't mastered the essence yet. We'll talk about it later, later..."

Upon hearing the term "kneading technique," Bai Xiang's ears burned slightly.

She turned her head to the side and gave him a reproachful look with her pretty eyes.

She didn't know how well this guy had mastered kneading dough, but she vaguely noticed that her undergarment seemed a bit off; it felt like it was a size too small.

It must be because I've gained some weight recently, there's no other reason.

Although Jiang Mu verbally declined, she still went over to help wash the vegetables.

"Jiang Mu!"

Just as the atmosphere in the kitchen was warm and cozy, Duanmu Li's clear voice suddenly rang out from outside.

Jiang Mu wiped her hands and walked out of the kitchen: "What's wrong?"

Duanmu Li stood in the courtyard, looking up and pointing to a crow perched on the upturned eaves, saying, "Look at that crow. It's been circling here since noon. I chased it away, but it keeps flying back. I thought about killing it, but this wretched bird flies pretty fast. Could it be some kind of ominous sign?"

Jiang Mu looked in the direction she was pointing.

Sure enough, a completely black crow was perched on the eaves, its head tilted, its bright black eyes staring at the people in the courtyard.

Crows are indeed considered unlucky.

Jiang Mu didn't think much of it and slashed out with a blade of energy.

To his surprise, the crow dodged the incoming blade of energy, its wings tracing an arc in the air before landing back in its original position. It seemed to be saying something, though its clothes were slightly dirty.

"monster?"

Jiang Mu's eyes narrowed, and he leaped onto the roof.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the crow was carrying a white wax pill in its beak.

Upon seeing Jiang Mu appear, the crow shook its head, spat the pill onto the tile, let out a piercing cry, spread its wings, and flew away in a flash, disappearing as a black dot.

"What the hell?"

Jiang Mu was puzzled. After examining the pill for a long time, she bent down and picked it up.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed a tiny crack on the surface of the pill, suggesting something was hidden inside. He gently squeezed the pill with his fingertips, revealing a rolled-up strip of paper.

When unfolded, two lines of text were written on it:

[The Demon Slayer Society will target you tomorrow. No matter what happens, stay home and don't go out. They have a magical artifact that can counter your star position.] Jiang Mu frowned as she stared at the words on the note.

He recalled that after Chu Lingzhu was captured, he had heard people from the Demon Slayer Society say that they were absolutely confident in capturing him.

Later, when the branch altar of the Demon Slayer Association was destroyed, he no longer took the matter to heart.

"It seems that the remnants of the Demon Slayer Society are still hiding in Yunzhou City."

"They've hidden it quite well."

But who could have delivered this letter?

Jiang Mu was completely baffled.

Judging from the other party's reminder alone, this person was clearly also lurking within the Demon Slayer Society and had a deep understanding of the plan to capture him.

Could they be spies planted by the imperial court? Although he often complained that the Demon Slayer Society and the Red Umbrella Sect were planting spies in the imperial court.

But from another perspective, didn't the massive imperial court plant spies within the enemy's camp?

After all, the game of Infernal Affairs can't be played by a single actor.

"That's really impressive. It actually has a magical artifact that can counter my star position."

Jiang Mu chuckled inwardly. "But which star position counters me? Please make it clear."

He has too many stars.

If you can control one, how can you control two?

If you can control two, how can you control five?

However, this also indirectly confirms that the fact that his celestial position could be investigated so clearly indicates that someone within the imperial court leaked the information. There are bad people among the masses.

Jiang Mu didn't take it to heart, casually put the note away, turned around and went back to the kitchen to busy herself with the three beauties.

As evening approached, the main hall of the mansion was brightly lit.

A small birthday party was held in a lively atmosphere. Around the large round table, a riot of beauties vie for attention, their subtle fragrance filling the air.

In addition to Shui Miaozheng, Jiang Mu also invited Mo Huaisu, who was usually detached from worldly affairs.

Jiang Mu looked around and saw the elegant and gentle Bai Xiang, the mature and charming Shui Miaozheng, the aloof and ethereal Mo Huaisu, the lively and charming Chu Lingzhu, the shy and beautiful Lan Rou'er, the cold and sassy Duanmu Li, and the obedient and pure Yuan Aqing.

I counted them, and there were exactly eight people at the table, including him.

He was the only man.

Looking at these women, each with their own distinct style yet all radiant and captivating, Jiang Mu couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. The yin energy in his home was indeed too heavy, but fortunately, his pure yang body was able to suppress it.

In addition, Jiang Mu also bought Yuan Aqing a new set of clothes.

He felt the style was too old-fashioned, so he specially asked the clothing shop to modify it according to the pattern he gave him.

They also obtained a batch of special silk fabric and cut it into white stockings.

The girl was born with a pure and lively appearance.

Wearing this outfit that blends ancient charm with modern elegance, she looked like a beautiful girl straight out of a comic book, leaving Bai Xiang, Mo Huaisu, and the others quite amazed.

He's definitely a little sword immortal from a comic book. "Boss, I didn't realize you had such a talent for making clothes."

Chu Lingzhu's eyes lit up as she circled around the little maid, then she said to Jiang Mu in a coquettish tone, "Can you make me a new one sometime?"

Jiang Mu laughed heartily:

"No problem, no problem, you can all have one, any style is fine. Sect Leader Mo, I'll have a nice Taoist robe made for you later too." Why make one for me too?

Mo Huaisu frowned slightly but remained silent.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

With Jiang Mu, a master of witty banter, the banquet was far from dull and remained quite lively and harmonious.

During this time, Jiang Mu even wanted to sing a birthday song from her past life while drunk, but after thinking about the scene, she felt it would be a bit awkward and ultimately didn't embarrass herself. However, Mo Huaisu, amidst the festivities, felt inexplicably melancholic.

She was chosen to join the Taoist sect at a young age, cultivating the supreme state of non-action. Accustomed to the desolate coldness of snow-capped peaks, she had never experienced such a lively family feast. She had no friends, no relatives.

The word "loneliness" is like a brand etched into her bones.

She had always thought that she disliked the hustle and bustle of the world.

But sitting here with Jiang Mu and the others, looking at those vibrant, smiling faces, a sense of joy welled up inside me, tinged with a hint of envy. "Home..."

This unfamiliar and distant word suddenly entered her heart and lingered there for a long time.

Is the Great Way truly lonely?

Is it truly only through solitude that one can reach the pinnacle of enlightenment?

Mo Huaisu sighed inwardly.

Nothing in this world is perfect.

There is always a trade-off between gaining and losing.

The path to enlightenment is inherently solitary. Even if Jiang Mu is fortunate enough to ascend in the future, he will inevitably have to part ways with all these confidantes, unable to grow old together. At that time, will he still be able to let go?

After the banquet, Mo Huaisu went back to his room first.

Bai Xiang cleared away the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.

Shui Miaozheng also declined Jiang Mu's absurd invitation to stay and play mahjong, and returned to the Demon Slayer Division.

For some reason, Shui Miaozheng always felt uneasy whenever she was in the same room as Bai Xiang. It was as if she were a concubine standing in front of the main wife.

I just can't straighten my back.

All I can say is that the invisible pressure emanating from the cypress tree was simply too overwhelming.

of course there are exceptions.

For example, Chu Lingzhu.

For some reason, this girl started drinking with Duanmu Li in the latter half of the banquet.

To be fair, the two agreed that one would not use any cultivation techniques and the other would not use any medicine. After drinking for a while, they both got drunk and started talking nonsense.

The young female doctor, her eyes glazed with drunkenness, slammed her hand on the table and loudly proposed electing a principal wife.

What's with this voting system?

Jiang Mu was at his wit's end and had no choice but to let Lan Rou'er and Yuan Aqing help the two drunk women back to their respective rooms to rest, while he slipped into the kitchen to help Bai Xiang clean up the mess.

Of course, washing dishes should also be done with a touch of elegance.

Jiang Mu wrapped his arms around Bai Xiang's slender waist from behind, resting his chin on her slightly cool, fragrant shoulder, and started washing the dishes together with the warm water. Bai Xiang was used to his shameless antics and was too lazy to struggle. But halfway through the washing, a drunken Chu Lingzhu stumbled in, grabbed Jiang Mu, and started yelling:

"Boss, have a baby! Have a baby right now!"

I want to give you a big, healthy son. So that that vixen Bai Xiang won't beat me to it...

Bai Xiang looked at Jiang Mu with a half-smile.

Jiang Muqian chuckled twice, then quickly stepped forward to embrace the young female doctor, offering her a good comforting speech before finally managing to calm this drunken brat back down. When he returned to the kitchen, intending to continue his tender moments with Bai Xiang, the woman had already lost interest.

Jiang Mu didn't want to force her, so she obediently helped her wipe the dishes.

After finishing her work, Bai Xiang went to her own courtyard. A short while later, she returned with a painting and handed it to Jiang Mu.

"What's wrong? Is it a gift for me?"

Jiang Mu took it out of curiosity, but was stunned when she unfolded it.

The painting was the one they brought back from the cave outside Yan City last time. The woman in the painting was the reincarnation of the wolf demon Mu Zilang, whom he had been waiting for for many years.

At that time, Jiang Mu took Yuan Aqing to seek opportunities in swordsmanship. Bai Xiang saw this painting hanging on the mountain wall and brought it back with her before leaving. Bai Xiang gestured with her hands in sign language:

"Help me copy this painting, make sure the paper is small." "Why are you drawing this? Do you know the woman in this painting?" Jiang Mu asked, puzzled.

Bai Xiang pursed her lips and gestured again: "It looks somewhat familiar, can you draw it for me first?"

She brought this painting because the woman in it looked very similar to her mother.

Of course, she was certain that the woman in the painting was not her mother. She had been thinking about some things lately and decided to investigate, which was why she asked Jiang Mu to help her with the painting.

She had previously seen how Jiang Mu drew sketches.

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Jiang Mu didn't press the matter further and said, "Alright, I'll draw it for you. But you'll have to pay me afterwards."

Bai Xiang blinked her beautiful eyes and suddenly stood on tiptoe.

A cool, soft lip gently pecked Jiang Mu's lips before turning away, with a hint of mischief.

"What kind of reward is this? You think you can get rid of this laborer with just a kiss?"

Jiang Mu muttered something to himself, and seeing that it wasn't too late, he took the painting to the study, intending to paint for a while.

After entering the room, he hung the painting on the wall and spread out the Xuan paper at the table.

Looking at the woman in the painting, that strange feeling that had been lingering in his heart rose again. Every time he saw this painting, he felt that the person in the painting was somewhat familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he just couldn't remember where.

Jiang Mu went through all the women he knew in his mind one by one.

No one can overlap with the silhouette of the person in the painting.

Jiang Mu shook her head, stopped thinking about it, and picked up her pen to prepare to paint.

Just as he was about to put down his pen, Chu Lingzhu's drunken shouts rang out again from the courtyard: "Master, come out here! Where are you, Master? I want to have your child..."

This girl isn't going to stop until she gets a good ride.

Jiang Mu frowned, put down her pen, and walked out of the study.

As the study door closed, the portrait hanging on the wall was suddenly rustled by a gust of wind...

The portrait swayed slightly, then settled down.

The moonlight was soft and gentle in the courtyard.

Chu Lingzhu's dress was slightly disheveled, her pretty face flushed. She pushed away Lan Rou'er, who was following behind trying to pull her back, while calling out to Jiang Mu in a sweet voice. When she saw Jiang Mu appear, the girl's eyes lit up, and she grinned, ready to pounce on him.

"Master!" Jiang Mu stepped forward in a few strides, picked up the drunken young healer, and turned to Lan Rou'er, saying, "You go and rest first, I'll take care of her." "Okay."

Lan Rou'er nodded obediently, her face flushed as she went back to her room.

Jiang Mu looked down at the delicate and charming young female doctor, and with a swift movement, he carried her directly to the rooftop.

He casually set up a barrier to block the cold air and prevent the other party from catching a cold.

"Having a baby, right?"

Jiang Mu loosened the belt around the girl's waist and sneered, "Then give birth."

In the dim shadows of a corner of the courtyard, Mo Huaisu, dressed in a simple black Taoist robe, stood quietly in the void.

She looked at the two people on the rooftop, her cool eyes shimmering slightly in the night.

When the two were halfway through their conversation, Mo Huaisu lightly bit her lip, then raised her hand slightly and formed the [Tai Xu Hun Yuan Hand Seal] in front of her chest once again.

The next moment, his soul left his body, and his primordial spirit departed from his body!

Just like last time, it entered through Chu Lingzhu's Shen Ting acupoint between her eyebrows.

In an instant, Mo Huaisu felt as if he were a lone boat tossed into a raging torrent. But this time,

The Dao Sect leader did not back down.

She gritted her teeth, clenched her fists tightly, and began to refine her Dao heart.